Description
Naval General Service Medal, bar Algiers, John Mackenny, Ordinary Seaman on HMS Superb, for the 1816 Bombardment of Algiers to stop the Barbary Pirates.
Officially impressed: “John Mackenny”
Confirmed on the medal roll, being a unique name.
Medal in very good preserved condition with a pleasant toning.
Provenance: Ex Glendinings April 1902.
With copy entries from the ship’s books.
John served on board HMS Superb between 10th July 1816 until the end of her commission on 6th October 1818.
John Mackenny was born on 3rd July 1796 in Kenwyn, Truro, Cornwall.
Son of John Mackenney and Betsy Hambley, both locals to the area.
He served as a young man in the Royal Navy, where he earned this medal during 1816 for the Bombardment of Algiers.
He is later spotted as late as 1871 on the Census living in Plymstock, Oreston, Devon, aged 79 living with his wife Mary Ann nee Trethowan, aged 73.
He later died in Plympton St Mary during December 1877.
The Algerine Expedition of 1816
During July of 1816, the Royal Navy was preparing themselves to take part in the “Algerine Expedition”, amongst the ships recruiting at Plymouth was HMS Superb.
As such, John signed on for service in the 1816-1818 commission as an Ordinary Seaman being recruited on 10th July 1816.
On 28th July 1816, the ship set off as part of a fleet of 19 vessels out of Plymouth Sound, for Gibraltar and then the Bay of Algiers.
On 9th August 1816, the fleet arrived at Gibraltar, joining the Dutch Squadron who had agreed to sail with them on the expedition.
Remaining at Gibraltar for a short time the fleet prepared for the upcoming battle taking part in gunnery practice etc.
Soon afterwards the battle arrived.
On 27th August 1816 at about 2pm, there had been no reply to Lord Exmouth’s demands of the Barbery Pirates, so the ships of the fleet all took up their stations and the Battle of Algiers commenced, lasting until about 10pm at night.
The London Courier 1st October 1816 reports on the battle with the following addition:
“EXTRACT OF A LETTER FORM HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP SUPERB
‘When we cut from our anchors, we had only a Mizen Topsail, Spiritsail, and half a Foresail to set – had the enemy fired low, they must have cut us up most severely – Impregnable suffered most severely, upwards of 200 killed and wounded; Leander, 180; Super, 100; Queen Charlotte, 170; All behaved well – nobly so.
The Chief showed great skill and decision. I do not believe history can produce a more desperate undertaking, and most grateful are we to have got out of it with comparatively so little loss.”
